Towel-wrapping machine



Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,827

v I 1:. D. THOMAS TOWEL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1924 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

THOMAS I). THOMAS, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

TOWEL-WRAPPING MACHINE.

Application filed March 22, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS I). THOMAS, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Trapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a towel rolling machine and one of the objects is to provide a hand operated device for winding up into rolls, long lengths of toweling for subsequent use in the cabinets provided for such types of towels in public places.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, in which the ends of the roll will be straight and also the roll will be as tight or as loose as desired.

Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists of certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line l1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of .Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section.

The winding mechanism is contained in a box 2, which is of such a size as to be readily portable, and in operation is usually placed at the end, preferably, of a long table. Within the box are, detachably supported, two rollers 3 and 4 on which towels may be wound at different speeds. At one end each roller is provided with a bearing 5 for a pin 6 on which the roller rotates. Supported by the end of box is a leaf spring 7 and between the said leaf spring and the end of the box is a spiral spring 8. At the other end of each roller is a square socket 9 engaging with the square end 10 of the shafts 11 and 12 to which is keyed respectively the gears 13 and 14. These gears are located in a compartment formed by the end wall 15 and a partition 16, the axles of the said gears being revolubly mounted in the said wall and partition. Connected to the shaft 11 is a crank handle 17 for rotating the said gears, the teeth ratio of the said gears being approximately 10 to 1.

' Mounted outside of and adjacent the bot- Seral No. 701,229.

tom of the box is a roller 18 supported by the brackets 19 and adjacent the upper end of the box is another roller 20, the said roller serving to guide and tension the towel as it is fed onto the winding roller.

In operation, the long strip of toweling will be received in an ironed condition from an adjacent mangle, usually power driven. The towel passes under the roller 18, over the roller 20 and is wound up on either one of the rollers 3 or 4: depending on the width of toweling and the speed at which the same can be satisfactorily handled, since the roller 4:, on account of the reduced gear ratio can be made to normally rotate at a much higher speed than the roller 3.

Before winding, a paper tube may he slipped over the rollers 3 and 4 so that when the towel is removed it will contain the paper tube tending to keep the finished roll in shape. After the towel has been wound on a roller, the roller can be removed, by pressing it against the springs 6 and 7 to disengage the socket 9 from the tenon 10, and in a similar manner the said rollers can be replaced.

A machine of this character is desirable from the standpoint of portability and compactness. It is much more rapid than simple hand rolling, as is sometimes practiced. On the other hand, it is preferable to a power operated rolling machine, because it is possible to interpose a certain amount of hand manipulation during the rolling so that the finished product will be neater and more compact than the power operated rolled towels.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a device of the character described, which accomplishes: the purpose for which it is intended. While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that I reserve the right to all changes properly falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Therefore what I claim as new and desire to receive by Letters Patent is:

1. A towel rolling machine comprising a support, a pair of winding rollers removably supported thereon and on which towels may be wound at different speeds, a pair of meshing gears of different teeth ratios removably mounted on the said support and in detachable engagement with the said rollers and means for rotating one of the said gears.

2. A towel rolling machine comprising a receptacle, a pair of Winding rollers removably mounted therein, a partition in the end of the receptacle, a pair of meshing gears 5 located between the partition and the end of the receptacle, means carried by the ends of the rollers for engaglng the axles of the said gears, and rollers located at the front of the said receptacle for guiding and tensioning the towel as it is led to a Winding roller.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature.

THOMAS D. THOMAS. 

